Best way to clean and whiten teeth
Professional cleaning removes plaque and calculus, while whitening changes the shade of natural tooth enamel with peroxide.
The short answer
Cleaning removes plaque, calculus, and surface stain, while whitening uses a peroxide gel to lighten the colour of natural teeth; many people need cleaning before whitening.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
Dental cleaning treats deposits on the tooth surface and below the gumline. Whitening treats colour within enamel and dentine, so it cannot remove calculus or change the colour of fillings, crowns, or veneers.
What can you do next?
Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and clean between teeth. A dental professional can remove calculus, assess decay and gum health, then choose supervised whitening, custom trays, or another treatment according to the cause of discoloration.
When should you seek dental care?
Book an examination before whitening if teeth are painful, sensitive, cracked, decayed, or affected by gum bleeding. Dental care is also needed when darkening affects one tooth or follows trauma.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the colour is surface stain or internal discoloration. Ask which restorations will not whiten, whether decay or exposed dentine must be treated first, and which whitening method fits your enamel and sensitivity.
Frequently asked questions
Will a cleaning make teeth white?
It can remove deposits and external stain, revealing the existing tooth colour, but it does not bleach enamel.
Can whitening replace brushing?
No. Whitening changes shade temporarily or progressively, while brushing and interdental cleaning control plaque.